Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-06-03
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, June ). 1857.
Olympia Will Celebrate.

Olympia has decided to celebrate
the 11lth anniversary of our national
independence at home and in her own
way, and for that object quite liberal
subscription has been made by some
of her more public-spirited citizens.
The main incentive which influenced
this determination Notwithstanding the
attractive features of Tacoma's cele-
Grafton, is to afford some means of en-
joyment Of the great holiday TO every
one of our own citizens. Many people
cannot afford the expense of the trip
and the several days stay at the ter
minus contemplated by the pro-
gramme. They would, of course, re-
main at home, and be deprived of a
realization of those glorious patriotic
impulses which animated our fore
fathers and that but await a display Of
the time-honored flag, the strains OF
martial music and the smell of burn
ing powder to develop. A selfish inn
pulse might impel some of our people
to overlook this fact and 60 abroad,
when true patriotism, which is emf
nently self-sacrifcing in its nature,
would prescribe different course.
1t has been suggested and urged by
some, and with showing of plaus-
Utility, that a grand commemoration
of railroad progress is essential at this
time, and that by uniting with our Ia
coma neighbors, we are literally kill
ing two birds with one stone," and
may in reality combine a proper ven
Grafton for the traditions Of the past
with just appreciation of the things
that are new. This seems, on reflec-
ton, to be little more than the aver
age mind can grasp. The observance
of the national holiday should stand
upon its own-merits. 1t should be
held sacred to the memories it revives,
the deeds it commentaries and the
object it will subserve in keeping alive
in every American heart the principles
of liberty and the duties involved in
the perpetuity of free government. 1t
should never he subordinated by" side
shows" of any description, nor made a
lever for elevating any local boom.
The question very naturally arises,
when Tacoma extends her invitation
to celebrate with her: "What object
is uppermost?", The published adver-
tisement reads:m"To celebrate the
111th anniversary of our National Holi-
day, and the Independence of our Ter
ritory through the completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad" Does the
anniversary take precedence simply
from chronological order or is it really
the leading part in the drama to- be
enacted? Or has the double-headed
programme been arranged simply as a
means of turning water upon the
wheel to grind Tacoma gristsf Par
don the thcdgafhlttMg-iit is rejected soon as
the sentence was written. Probably
the disposition manifested by Seattle
to absorb" the Land Office, and the
success which has attended Tacoma's
effort to appropriate the District
Judge, may have induced the unchari-
table reflection. Blot it out. Tacoma,
from her own showing, certainly has
too firm hold upon Prosperity to re-
sort to such a " Cheap John" method
of appreciating the value Of her wares.
The celebration in Olympia will, we
think, be very creditable affair, and
those who participate will not, as usual
experience teaches, return home out
of pocket, out Of sorts, and firm in the
resolution to ever thereafter avoid the
jam and discomforts of city when it
is wild with excitement.